Cooling and heating water dispenser with multiple water inlets

Abstract

A water dispenser system designed to provide enhanced functionality while maintaining the traditional form of conventional dispensers. The system is designed to cool and heat water and to integrate multiple water bottles of varying sizes and water levels. It is designed to operate consistently regardless of whether all water bottle connections are actively in use. The system can autonomously withdraw water from connected bottles, detect depletion in bottles, and switch to consuming available bottles with minimal user intervention. Water level regulation is maintained using float switches in the water tanks. The system supports simultaneous water withdrawal from multiple bottles, reducing the frequency of replacement. Water may be dispensed at hot, cold, or room temperature through corresponding outlet valves. The system does not require structural or plumbing modifications and preserves the external design of standard water dispensers while introducing smart, multi-bottle management.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for dispensing water from multiple sources, comprised of:
 a series of water bottles,   a series of water tubes,   a series of outlet valves,   a cooling system, further comprised of a cold-water tank, refrigerant, compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator,   a heating system, further comprised of a hot water tank and a water heating element,   a water pumping system, further comprised of said series of water tubes, a series of control valves, and a water pump,   wherein each of said water tubes is connected to a corresponding number of each of said water bottles, each of said water tubes is further connected to corresponding number of said water control valves, wherein all of said control valves are connected to said water pump, wherein said water pump is further connected to said at least one water tank, wherein said cold-water tank is connected to one of said outlet valves, wherein said hot water tank is connected to one of said outlet valves, and   at least one electrical control board connected to system components by electrical wires.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical control board integrates with said cooling system with a system of cooling system electrical wires, wherein said electrical control board integrates said heating system with a system of heating system electrical wires, wherein said cooling system is powered by electrical power through said cooling system electrical wires connected to said compressor, wherein said compressor is connected to said refrigerant via refrigerant filled tubes, wherein said refrigerant passes through said condenser and said throttling device, wherein said refrigerant passes through said refrigerant filled tubes connected to said evaporator to cool said water in said cold-water tank, wherein said water heating element of said water heating system is powered by said electrical power run through said heating system electrical wires. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical control board detects depletion of said water bottles as determined by a method selected from the group consisting of: measurement of voltage, measurement of current, measurement of resistance across said pump's electrical terminals; time-based monitoring of said single pump's pumping activity, and time-based monitoring of detecting low water level by a float switch in said water tank, wherein said electrical control board directs the system to extract said water from any non-depleted water bottle connected to said system until such time as all of said series of water bottles connected are depleted. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a low water level monitoring instrument is integrated into said water tank, wherein said low water level monitoring instrument is selected from the group consisting of: a float switch, an ultrasonic sensor and a pressure switch. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an empty tank monitoring instrument is integrated into said water tank, wherein said empty tank monitoring instrument is selected from the group consisting of: a float switch, an ultrasonic sensor and a pressure switch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said cold water tank is connected by said cold-water tank water tube to a cold-water outlet valve, wherein said hot water tank is connected by hot water tank water tube to a hot water outlet valve, wherein a third water outlet valve is connected by a mixing header to said cold water tank water tube on a first end of said mixing header and said hot water tank water tube on a second end of said mixing header. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user interface is integrated to the system and comprised of instruments selected from the group consisting of: a reset button, a water dispenser system power control manual switch, a cooling system manual power switch, a heating system manual power switch, an indicator for heating status, an indicator for cooling status and an indicator for depleted bottle status. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said reset control is triggered by the activity selected from the group consisting of: manually depressing reset button, automatically by opening cover door, and automatically by closing cover door. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said control valves are solenoid valves. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature switch is utilized to regulate the temperature of said water tank. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is utilized to regulate the temperature of said water tank. 
     
     
         12 . A system for dispensing water from multiple sources, comprised of
 a series of water bottles,   a series of water inlet tubes,   a series of outlet valves,   a cooling system, further comprised of a cold-water tank, refrigerant, compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator,   a heating system, further comprised of a hot water tank and a water heating element,   a water pumping system, further comprised of said series of water inlet tubes and a series of water pumps,   wherein each of said water tubes is connected to a corresponding number of each of said water bottles, each of said water tubes is further connected to corresponding number of said water pumps, wherein all of said water pumps are further connected to said at least one water tank, wherein said cold-water tank is connected to one of said outlet valves, wherein said hot water tank is connected to one of said outlet valves, and   at least one electrical control board connected to system components by electrical wire.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said electrical control board integrates with said cooling system with a system of cooling system electrical wires, wherein said electrical control board integrates said heating system with a system of heating system electrical wires, wherein said cooling system is powered by electrical power through said cooling system electrical wires connected to said compressor, wherein said compressor is connected to said refrigerant via refrigerant filled tubes, wherein said refrigerant passes through said condenser and said throttling device, wherein said refrigerant passes through said refrigerant filled tubes connected to said evaporator to cool said water in said cold-water tank, wherein said water heating element of said water heating system is powered by said electrical power run through said heating system electrical wires. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said electrical control board detects depletion of said water bottles as determined by a method selected from the group consisting of: measurement of voltage, measurement of current, measurement of resistance across said pump's electrical terminals; time-based monitoring of said single pump's pumping activity, and time-based monitoring of detecting low water level by a float switch in said water tank, wherein said electrical control board directs the system to extract said water from any non-depleted water bottle connected to said system until such time as all of said series of water bottles connected are depleted. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein a low water level monitoring instrument is integrated into said water tank, wherein said low water level monitoring instrument is selected from the group consisting of: a float switch, an ultrasonic sensor and a pressure switch. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein an empty tank monitoring instrument is integrated into said water tank, wherein said empty tank monitoring instrument is selected from the group consisting of: a float switch, an ultrasonic sensor and a pressure switch. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said cold water tank is connected by said cold-water tank water tube to a cold-water outlet valve, wherein said hot water tank is connected by hot water tank water tube to a hot water outlet valve, wherein a third water outlet valve is connected by a mixing header to said cold water tank water tube on a first end of said mixing header and said hot water tank water tube on a second end of said mixing header. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a user interface is integrated to the system and comprised of instruments selected from the group consisting of: a reset button, a water dispenser system power control manual switch, a cooling system manual power switch, a heating system manual power switch, an indicator for heating status, an indicator for cooling status and an indicator for depleted bottle status. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said reset control is triggered by the activity selected from the group consisting of: manually depressing reset button, automatically by opening cover door, and automatically by closing cover door. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature switch is utilized to regulate the temperature of said water tank. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is utilized to regulate the temperature of said water tank. 
     
     
         22 . A method of dispensing water from multiple water bottles, comprising:
 Connecting a series of water bottles to a water dispenser via inlet tubes;   Directing water from said water bottles using control valves connected to a pump,   Extracting said water from said water bottles using said single pump   Transferring said water through said single pump to at least one water tank;   Dispensing said water through an outlet valve connected to said water tank;   Monitoring the current water depletion status of each of said water bottles on an electrical control board;   Ceasing water dispensing operations when all of said water bottles are depleted.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a hot water tank is connected to a cold-water tank, wherein said water flows directly from said cold water tank into said hot water tank via water tube. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said outlet valve is selected from the group consisting of: cold water outlet valve receiving said water from said cold-water tank, hot water outlet valve receiving said water from said hot water tank, and room-temperature water outlet valve receiving said water from said cold-water tank and said hot water tank. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said current water depletion status of each of said water bottle is determined by a method selected from the group consisting of: measurement of voltage, measurement of current, measurement of resistance across said pump's electrical terminals; time-based monitoring of the activity of said single pump activity, and time-based monitoring of detecting low water level by a float switch in said water tank. 
     
     
         26 . A method of dispensing water from multiple water bottles, comprising:
 Connecting a series of replaceable water bottles to a water dispenser via inlet tubes;   Directing water from said water bottles using a series of pumps,   Transferring said water through said pumps to at least one water tank;   Dispensing said water through an outlet valve connected to said water tank;   Monitoring the current water depletion status of each of said water bottles on an electrical control board;   Ceasing water dispensing operations when all of said water bottles are depleted.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a hot water tank is connected to a cold-water tank, wherein said water flows directly from said cold water tank into said hot water tank via water tube. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said outlet valve is selected from the group consisting of:
 cold water outlet valve receiving said water from said a cold-water tank, hot water outlet valve receiving said water from said a hot water tank, and room-temperature water outlet valve receiving said water from said cold water tank and said hot water tank.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said current water depletion status of each of said water bottle is determined by a method selected from the group consisting of: measurement of voltage, measurement of current, measurement of resistance across said pump's electrical terminals; time-based monitoring of the activity of said single pump activity, and time-based monitoring of detecting low water level by a float switch in said water tank.